Support for heating appliances or other working tools



May 1, 1951 T- PETERSEN 2,551,285

' SUPPORT FOR HEATING APPLIANCES OR OTHER WORKING TOOLS Filed July 2,1949 v5 Sheets-Sheet l THE ODORE PETERSEN Maw A TTORIVEY T. PETERSEN May1, 1951 SUPPORT FOR HEATING APPLIANCES OR OTHER WORKING TOOLS Filed July2, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. THEODORE PE TERSEN BY M-fM A TTORNEY y 1951 T. PETERSEN SUPPORT FOR HEATING APPLXANCES OR OTHERWORKING TOOLS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 2, 1949 mm to on WM 3INVENTOR. THEODORE PETERSEN BY M 5W4 A TTORNEV Patented May 1, 1 951OFFICE.

SUPPORT FOR HEATING APPLIANCES OR OTHER WORKING TOOLS Theodore Petersen,South Orange, N. J.

Application July 2, 1949, Serial No. 102,917

6 Claims.

The invention relates to a holder or support for a working tool orappliance, which is adapted for attachment to a work table, bench or thelike, and particularly to such a holder of the folding type.

It is specifically applicable to, although not limited to, a holder forattachment to an ironing table, to support an electric fiatiron duringintervals in which the latter is supplied with electric current so as tobe in the heated condition preparatory to use but is not actually in usefor the desired ironing purpose, in order to effectively increase theworking space on the table during such intervals while preventingscorching of the cloth or other table covering and fires which mightoccur if the fiatiron in the heated condition is left standing on thetable proper for too long a time, this holder being adapted to be foldedback out of the way against the table when the latter is not in use.

Objects of the invention are to improve such a holder from thestandpoint of simplicity in construction; ruggedness combined with lightweight and an attractive appearance; efliciency and ease in operation;and low cost of manufacture.

The holder in accordance with one embodiment of the invention comprisesa basket-like metal rack or container of special construction forsupporting the electric fiatiron or other heating appliance duringperiods of non-use for the ironing or other heating purpose. This rackis attached to the underside of the ironing board of the table at oneend thereof by means of a mechanical linkage having a plurality ofpivotal points, at least one of which is fixed and another substantiallyfree with respect to the ironing board; for example, a pair ofdouble-articulated hinges, these hinges being operable to swing thebasket or rack to an optimum working position in which it extendsoutwardly from the end of the board, and, alternatively to an idle or.rest position in which it is folded back on top of the board. Thehinges for this purpose include inherent motion limiting means adaptedfor holding the basket or rack in its working position when it is swungin one direction, frictional retaining means for providing the necessarybrake on their motion, and a lost-motion component to enable therequired range of angular motion to be obtained.

A feature of the invention is the use for the base of the basket orr-ack supporting the electric fiatiron, of a plurality of spaced, flatmetal bars disposed so that in the working position of the 2 holder theyslope gradually away from the upper surface of the ironing board andprovide means for enabling the fiatiron to be slid from the ironingsurface of the board to the rack, and from the rack back to the ironingsurface of the board, without the necessity of lifting the fiatiron,thereby lessening fatigue to the user in the ironin operation. 7

Another feature is an auxiliary pad of sounddeadening andheat-insulating material adapted for ready attachment to the metalbasket or rack of the holder of the invention to suppress operationnoises and prevent injury to the working surfaces of the fiatiron andbasket during operation; and adapted for ready detachment therefrom whenthe conditions of use of the equipment does not require it. I

Another feature is the provision in the construction of the rack atlittle additional cost of a simple guide for the electric current supplycord attached to the fiatiron during operation of the latter for itsironing purpose and the process of sliding the fiatiron back and forthbetween the ironing surface and the rack, in order to prevent fouling ofthe cord, undue bending wear thereon, and possible injury to theassociated electric plugs caused by these operations.

These and other objects and features of the invention are fullyexplained in the following description thereof to be read in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings in which:

Figs. 1 and 2 respectively show a side elevation and a top plan view ofone embodiment of the folding holder of the invention applied toan'ironing board;

Fig. 3 shows an end elevation view of the folding holder of theinvention taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2, partly in section to showstructural details;

Fig. 4 shows a side view of a portion of one of the hinges used in thefolding holder of the invention, partly in section to indicate moreclearly other details of construction;

Figs. 5 and 6 show different views of one type of friction washer whichmay be used in each of the hinges of the folding holder of theinvention, to illustrate its construction; and,

Fig. 7 shows a sectional view of a fragment of the detachableheat-insulating and sound-deadening pad of the invention, illustratingone type of construction which may be used.

The holder or support in accordance with one practical embodiment of theinvention is shown in Figs. 1 to 3, drawn to a scale of inch equals 1inch, as applied to an ironing board I having a cloth or other coveringIa, shown in fragmentary form, of an ironing table. This holder includesa metal basket or rack 2 of special construction and a pair of ofiset,double-articulated hinges 3 and 4 connecting the basket to the bottom ofthe board at one end thereof. The hinges 3 and 4 are adapted foroperation in unison to swing the basket to an optimum position, to bedefined later, with respect to the horizontal ironing surface of theboard, for supporting an electric flatiron between intermittent ironingoper-. ations, so as to leave the entire working surface of the boardfree for other purposes during these intervals, such as the brushing orfolding of the textile materials being ironed; and alternatively toswing the basket to a rest position in which it is folded back againstthe top of the board.

The basket 2 includes a frame portion of substantially rectangularshape. This frame por tion includes a cold rolled steel strip of elongated, rectangular cross-section /2" x %3") and suitable length bent attwo points around a radius perpendicular to the longest transversedimension /2) so as to provide an intermediate straight portion formingone long side 5 and two straight end portions of equal length at rightangles thereto forming the two parallel short sides 6 and I of theframe, the two bends being suitably rounded to improve the appearance ofthe basket and to obviate undesirable sharp edges. The other long side 8of the frame, parallel to the long side 5', comprises a cold rolledsteel rod of "circular cross-section diameter) extending between andaffixed at its ends to the two short sides 6 and I of the frame atcorresponding 'points near their free ends. Silver brazing is preferablyused for joining the rods to the frame in order to provide strong, cleanjoints.

Three cold rolled steel bars 9, I and II of the same elongated,rectangular cross-section X 1A3) as the steel strip forming three sidesof the frame are used for the base of the basket. They extend inparallel with each other between the round rod forming the long side "8and the portion of the steel strip forming the other long side or theframe, at respectively equally spaced points between the two short sides6 and I thereof. Each of the three cross-bars 9, I0 and II has acorresponding bend in it such that the longer portion of the barslopesdownwardly gradually; for example, at an angle of approximately 12degrees, as shown, away from the round rod 8, land the remaining shortportion with the holder in its working position rises approximatelyvertically from the bend to the lower edge (having the transversedimension) of the fiat steel strip portion forming the longside 5 of theframe. The cross-bars 9, I0 and II are joined securely at their ends tothe long sides 5 and 8 of the frame, preferably by silver brazing. Theupper surfaces of the inclined portions of the three cross-bars providesupporting surfaces for the electric flatiron, indicated in'Figs. land'2 by the dot-dash phantom outline I2, and enable it to be slid,without lifting, from the horizontal surface of the ironing board I intothe basket 2 during intervals between ironing operations and back ontothe working surface of the ironing board when the ironing is to becontinued. The vertically rising portions of the cross-bars 9, I0 and II cooperate with the portion of steel strip forming the long side '5 andthe portions of "steel strip forming the short sides 5 and l of theframe to prevent the flatiron from falling out of the basliet 2.

small enclosed opening between the frame and rod. This opening may beused as a guide for the cord, indicated by the phantom outline I4 inFig. 1, supplying electric current from a power outlet to the fiatironI2, during the intervals in which the latter is moved back and forth onthe working surface of the board I for its ironing purpose and duringthe intermediate intervals in which it is shifted back and forth betweenthe working surface of the board and the basket 2. The rod I3 may beattached at its ends to the frame by silver brazing. As indicated inFig. 2, the rod I3 may be bent at an intermediate point to provide amore suitable shape for the guide opening in order to prevent binding ofthe cord in triangular corners.

Each of the hinges 3 and 4 includes an individual small br'a'cket I5 andI5, respectively, in the form of a T, which may be made from a singlepiece of I6 gauge thickness) mild steel plate of suitable length andwidth, by bending the centrally located portion sharply downward so asto form a loop and compressing the sides of the loop together to formthe stem I6 of the T at right angles to the two collinear flangeportions H forming the cross-bar of the T. Two or more holes areprovided in the flange portions H for screws to attach the two bracketsI5 and I5 to the bottom of the ironing board I at spaced pointsseparated by a distance determined by the Width of the end of theaverage ironing board. The brackets I5 and I5 are respectively spacedinwardly from the sides of the ironing board by the same distance andinwardly from the end of the ironing board by the same distance.

Each hinge 3 and 4 also includes a metal mem-- ber I8 comprising achannel section having two parallel, longitudinally extending flanges I9and 20 connected by a web 2|, bent in the form of a V with the open sideof the channel on the inside, the two straight arms 22 and 23 of theV-shaped member being preferably disposed, as shown, so as to provide anangle of approximately 50 degrees between them, and the bottom of the Vbeing suitably rounded, as shown, to avoid a sharp edge. Each hingemember I8 may be formed integrally from a single piece of I6 gauge mildsteel plate of suitable dimensions by means of a number of bendingoperations using a special commercial bending machine. The width of theopening between the parallel flange portions I9 and 20 of the channelsection of each hinge member I8 is selected to accommodate the width ofthe stem I6 of each bracket I5 and i5 and the width 'of the steel stripforming the short sides of the basket frame, to be pivotly mountedtherein when thehinge is assembled in the manner to be described later.

Motion limiting 'mean's inherent in each of the hinges 3 and '4 isprovided by suitable shaping of the upper end of the arm 22 of theV-shap'ed member I8 of each hinge 3 and 4, extending beyond the pivotingpoint, and the provision of a lug 24 the upper surface of which forms ashoulder at a suitable location on the outside of the other arm 23 ofthat member. As shown the's'ide view of the h'in'ge member I8 in Fig 4,in which the upper portion of one flange portion I8 of arm 231s shownbroken away, the lug -24 may be made integral with the member I8'by theprovision of vertical cuts in the top of the .arm' 23 such as to allowthe top portion of the web 2| to be folded back to form a loop thevupper surface of which provides the desired in these members and in afriction washer 25.

Similarly, the free end of the steel strip forming the other short sideI of the basket frame, proj ecting beyond the point of connection of theother end of the round rod 8 thereto is pivotaily mounted between theflanges I9 and 23 at the top of the arm 23 of member I8 of hinge 4 bymeans of a second tubular rivet 2'! extending through correspondingholes in these members and in a second friction washer 28. The stem I6of the T-shaped bracket I5 is pivotaliy mounted between the parallelflanges I9 and 23 at the top of arm 22 of member I8 of hinge 3 by meansof a third tubular rivet 29 extending through corresponding holes inthese members and in a third friction washer 30. Similarly, the stem I6of the T-shaped bracket I5 is pivotally mounted between the parallelflanges I9 and 23 at the top of arm 22 of member I8 of hinge 4 by meansof a fourth tubular rivet 3| extending through corresponding holes inthese members and in a fourth friction washer 32.

Each friction washer 26, 28, 30 and 32 may be of the known commercialtype illustrated in the two views of Figs. 5 and 6. This type offriction washer, which is made from spring steel, is of saucer shapewhen uncompressed and has a number of radial slots in it formingoutwardly extending resilient tabs or cusps which, when compressed by atubular rivet or other securing means, collectively furnish a componentof friction. The friction components provided by the friction washers inhinges 3 and 4 are utilized to slow-up the motion of the folding holderwhen the latter is operated to the working or to the rest position so asto prevent injury to any of its parts and undesired crashes when thehasket 2 hits the board I or the motion limiting shoulder provided bythe lug 24 on the member I8 of each hinge 3 and 4. These frictioncomponents also serve to maintain the basket 2 in its rest positionfolded back against the top of board I when the ironing table is foldedup and stored away at the end of a period of use. In that case, therounded V-shaped members I8 in hinges 3 and 4 may serve as feet tosupport the table on end thereby protecting the board I and its coveringfrom dust and dirt. 7

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, an auxiliary pad 33 made fromheat-insulating and sound-deadening material may be applied as a cushionbetween the basket 2 and the electric flatiron I2 if it is desired toprevent injury to the finish of the supporting metal surfaces of thebasket due to the application of heat thereto from the heated flatironfor a considerable time; to prevent scratching of the bottom surface ofthe flatiron by the metal surfaces of the basket when the flatiron isbeing shifted back and forth between the ironin surface of the board andthe basket 2 between intermittent ironing operations; or to preventannoying noises dueto the fiatiron hit-- ting the metal parts of thebasket during such the remaining portion of the pad is bent so as toconform with the inside of the basket 2 and to lie flat over the uppersurfaces of the crossbars 9, I0 and II forming the base of the basket.Therefore, this pad may be easily attached to the basket 2, and easilydetached therefrom by the user of the equipment when the condition ofuse of the latter are such as not to require the pad. In one form ofconstruction illustrated in Fig. 7, the pad may comprise an envelope 34made from a thin sheet of Duralumin closed by the lap joint 35 andcontaining a filling 36 of asbestos fibre or other suitable material toprovide the desired heat-insulating and sound-deadening properties tothe combination, as well as the required stiffness.

In the operation of the holder of the invention, the hinges 3 and 4allow the basket to be swung to the right by the user of the equipmentto the working position shown by solid lines in Fig. 1 in which thebasket extends outwardly from the end of the board I with the upperedges of the steel strip forming the short sides 6 and I of the basketframe substantially in the same plane as the working surface of theboard I and with no part of the basket or hinge structure in a positionhigher than the top of the board I. The basket 2 will be held in thatworking position because further movement of the members I8 of thehinges 3 and 4 is prevented by the shaped upper surfaces of the arms 22of these members being brought into abutment with the lower surfaces ofthe flange portions I! of the brackets I5 and I5, respectively, andfurther downward movement of basket 2 is prevented by the lower edges ofthe short sides 6 and I of the basket frame being brought intoengagement with the shoulders formed by the properly located uppersurfaces of the lugs 24 on the arms 23 of the members I8 of the twohinges 3 and 4, which lugs are held stationary due to the stopping offurther movement of these hinge members.

When the ironing table is not in use, the hinges 3 and 4 allow thebasket 2 to be swung by the user upwardly from the working position overan angle greater than degrees until it is brought to rest folded .backon top of the board I, as indicated in Fig. l by the dot-dash phantomoutline 31 showing the exact position of the basket and the hinges forthat condition of adsmaller angle because of insufiicient clearance.

The use of single pivot hinges, making the angular movement less than180 degrees between the working and rest positions of the basket,

would require that this pivotal point be located higher than thehorizontal surface of the board .I in order to provide the desiredclearances. This following pertinent. dimensions.

would: be.- undesirable; because:- of. the; danger of the flatironstriking parts of the basket or hinges which would be. located' abovethe. working surface of" theboard I in. the Working: position of the:holder, in the process of shifting the. flatiron back and forth betweenthat surface and. the

basket.

The. entire basket 2 is, preferably, cadmium plated and the. hinges 3and 4 are, preferably, sprayed with colored. enamel and oven-baked, sothat. the entire holder has an attractive appearance.

The particular embodiment of the holder of the invention illustrated anddescribed has. the The distance between the center lines of the bracketsI5 and I5 when attached to an ironing board is approximately inches, sothat the. holder will be applicable to ironing boards having widths attheir wider ends of. as. low as 12 inches. The Width, of the rectangularframe of. the basket 2 between the short sides 6 and 1. thereof isvapproximately 10 inches, and the length. between the long sides 5 and 8of the frame is approximately 5 inches. The depth of the basket.-(inside dimension) at its deepest point is approximately 1.25 inches.The spacing between. the near; end of the board I and the round rodforming the long side 8 of the basket frame is approximately 1.5 inches.

The weight of. the entire holder including the metal basket and hingestructures illustrated and described is less than one pound, and may bespecified for the several parts of the holder of the invention are givenbyway of example only,

and that other suitable materials and dimensions may be used. Variousother modifications of the .holder or support illustratedand describedwhich are within. the spirit and scope of the invention will occur topersons skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1.. Incombination with a work table. having a horizontal topworking'surface, a working tool holder, a multi-articulated hingestructure connecting said holder to the bottom of said table nearone endthereof, said hinge structurehaving at least one pivot point fixed withrespect to saidtable and at least one other pivot point substantiallyfree with respect thereto and-.being adapted to swing said holder in onedirection to an optimum working position extending out.- wardly fromsaid one end of saidtablefor trans.-

ferring a. working tool between said horizontal working surface of saidtable and said holder, and; alternatively to swing said holder in theopposite: direction to another position, over 180 degrees from saidworking position in which; it rests on topofsaid table, this range ofangular motion ofsaid holder being obtainable because of the lost motioncomponent inherent in said multi-articulatedhinge structure, theportions; of

said hinge structure extending between the; fixed andfree pivot points;thereof being shaped sov as to provide the required clearance: to.prevent interference between. said table. and said" hinge structure whensaid holder is swung between said working position and said otherposition and motion limiting means inherent. in said hinge structurecooperating with said table and said holder to maintain the. latter insaid' working position when it is: swung thereto insaid one direction.

2. In combination with anironing board having an upper working surfaceand an electric flatiron for use thereon adapted for connection byacurrent supply cord to an electric power source, a basket-like holderfor supporting said flatiron off said board between intermittent ironingoperations on said working surface, hinging means connecting said holderto the bottom of said board near one end thereof and adapted to swingsaid holder alternatively to an optimum working position extendingoutwardly from said one end of said board for easily transferring saidflatiron between said board working surfaceand said holder, said holderincluding a metal frame of substantially rectangular shape having threesides formed by fi'at metal strip disposed so that its long transversedimensions are vertical when said holderis in said optimum workingposition, and a fourth side formed bya straight metal rod of circularcross-section extending between and affixed at its ends to the metalstrip portions forming two parallel sides of said frame, and anotherbase portion comprising a plurality of parallel flat metal stripsextending between and aflixed to opposite sides of said frame at spacedpoints between the other two opposite. sides thereof and a secondmetalrod extending across one corner of said frame. portion between andaffixed at its ends to the metal members forming the adjacent sides ofsaid frame portion at said one corner-thereof, to form a small enclosedspace between said second metal rod and said frame: portion, which. maybev usedv as. a. guide for said: current supply cord when said cord. isconnected therethrough and through the interstices in the base portion.of said holder between said power source-and said flatiron: during theperiods in; which the: latter is. in use for ironing operations; on.said. working surface of said board and during: intermediate periodsinwhiclr it is bein shifted back and forth between said working surfaceof' said board. and said holder.

3. In combination with an' ironing table including an ironing boardhaving a horizontal. top working surface, and an electric. flatiron, abasket-like holder for supporting said electric flatiron. betweenintermittent ironing operations on. said. board, a pair of identicaldouble-pivot, ofiset. hinges. connecting said holder to the bot.- tom;ofsaidboard near one end thereof,,one pivot point. of each of saidhinges being fixed with respect to said board and the other. pivot pointbeing substantially free with respect thereto, said pair; of hingesbeing adapted for operation in unison to; swing. said holder to anoptimum position extending outwardly from said one end of said board forthe shifting of said electric flatironz between said. working surface ofsaidboard andsaid. holder and such that no part ofsaid holder or saidhinges are located higher than said working surface of said board, andalternatively; to swing said holder over an angle greater than degreesfrom said working position to another position in which. it is foldedback on top. ofsaid. board, the portion of each hinge located betweenthe two' pivot points; thereof 7 being bent longitudinally awayfromsaid. board to provide sufficient clearance space to preventinterference between said hinge portion and the end of said board whensaid holder is swung between said working and said other position andmotion limiting means inherent in said hinges cooperating with saidboard and said holder to maintain said holder in said workin positionwhen it is swung thereto from said other position.

4. The combination of claim 3, in which each of said hinges includes abracket and a V-shaped member having two straight arms disposed at agiven angle with respect to each other, said member being pivotallyconnected at the free end of one arm to the associated bracket, theV-shaped members of said pair of hinges being respectively pivotallyconnected at the free ends of their respective other arms to oppositesides of said holder, the two brackets of said hinges being aflixed tothe bottom of said board near said one end thereof at respective pointsspaced from each other and respectively located at the same distanceinwardly from opposite sides of said board and at the same distanceinwardly from said one end thereof, the said given angle between the twostraight arms of the V-shaped member of each hinge being selected toprovide the necessary amount of clearance between the hinges and saidboard when said holder is swung to said working position or to saidother position.

5. The combination of claim 3 in which said holder includes a frame ofsubstantially rectangular shape and suitable dimensions, one long sideand the two parallel short sides of which comprise straight portions offlat metal strip disposed so that the longest transverse dimensionsthereof are vertical when said holder is in said working position, theother long side of said frame comprises a straight metal rod extendingbetween and afiixed at its ends to the metal strip portions forming theshort sides of said frame at corresponding points a short distance fromthe free ends thereof, each of said hinges includes a T shaped brackethaving a stem and two collinear flange portions at right angles theretorespectively extending to'opposite sides of the stem, and another hingemember of rounded V-shape including two straight arms disposed with agiven interior angle between them, one arm of the V-shaped member ofeach hinge being pivotly connected at its free end to the stem of theassociated bracket and the other arms of said members being respectivelypivotly connected to the free ends of the metal strip portions formingthe opposite sides of said holder frame, the flange portions of thebrackets of the two hinges being affixed to the bottom of said boardnear said one end thereof at points spaced from each other by a distancedetermined by the length of the long sides of said frame andsymmetrically located with respect to the opposite sides and the end ofsaid board, said motion limiting means inherent in said hinges beingprovided by proper shaping of the upper surfaces of the free ends ofsaid one arm of the V-shaped members of said hinges and a lug forming ashoulder on the outside of said other arm of the V-shapedmember of eachhinge so that when said holder is swung to said working position by saidhinge the shaped surface of said one arm of each V-shaped hinge memberengages in abutment with the bottoms of the flange portions of theassociated bracket and the shoulder 10 formed by the lug on said otherarm of each of said V-shaped members engages in abutment with the loweredge of one of the metal strip portions forming the two opposite shortsides of said frame.

6. The combination of claim 1, in which said holder includes asubstantially rectangular frame the two parallel short sides of whichextend in a direction perpendicular to said one end of said table andare formed from flat metal strips disposed with its long transversedimensions vertical when said holder is in said working position, andsaid hinge structure comprises a pair of offset, double-articulatedhinges each comprising a T-shaped metal bracket having a stem and twocollinear flange portions at right angles thereto respectively locatedon opposite sides of the stem, a hinge member comprising a metal channelsection having two longitudinally extending flanges connected by a web,bent into a V-shaped form with the open side of the channel section onthe inside to provide two straight channel arms disposed so as toprovide a given interior angle between them, two tubular rivets and twofriction washers, the stem of the bracket of each said hinge beinginserted between the parallel flanges at the free end of one arm of theassociated V-shaped member and being pivotally connected thereto bymeans of one of the two tubular rivets for that hinge extending throughcorresponding holes in said stem, said flanges and one of the twofriction washers for that hinge, the ends of the two metal stripportions forming the opposite short sides of said holder frame beingrespectively inserted between the parallel flanges at the free end of adifferent one of the other arms of the V-shaped members of therespective hinges and being pivotally connected thereto by the third andthe fourth tubular rivet, respectively, extending through correspondingholes in the connected arm and in the third and the fourth frictionwasher, respectively, said given interior angle between the two arms ofeach V-shaped member in said hinges being selected to provide therequired clearances between said table and said hinges when the holderis swung by the latter to said working position or to said other restposition, and the friction washers being utilized at the pivoting pointsof said hinges to provide components of friction therein such as to slowup the motion of said holder sufiiciently to prevent injury to any ofthe parts of said holder or of said hinges and undesired crashes whensaid holder comes in contact with said motion limiting means inherent insaid hinges or the top of said table.

THEODORE PETERSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,528,312 Taylor Mar. 3, 19251,657,917 Danielson Jan. 31, 1928 2,193,414 Berkman Mar. 12, 19402,472,244 Brady June 7, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 173,384Switzerland Feb. 16, 1935

